The Daily Star Sunday says Balo has told pals heâ€™s returning to Italy with AC Milan, the club he supports, as his likely destination.

And Balotelli, 22, was making that known BEFORE his training ground bust-up with manager Roberto Mancini last Thursday.

Mancini has since insisted that heâ€™ll give his fellow countryman another 100 chances at City.

But a split is inevitable - either in this monthâ€™s transfer window or in the summer.

City valued Balotelli at Â£40 million a few months ago, when former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti wanted him at Paris Saint Germain.

But the Premier League champions now fear they will do well to get Â£15 million for a talented player who this season has made more headlines for the wrong reasons than for his undoubted ability on the pitch.